Kate Brownell Stack

Emotional Benefits of Crafting

Children’s minds and bodies develop swiftly as they grow and explore their surroundings. Arts & crafts are wonderful instruments that can help with this development. Kids craft kits allow them to get a hands-on experience where they can tangibly express themselves and immerse themselves in a haven of vibrant colours, varied textures, and boundless creativity!

Boosting Self-esteem and Confidence

Crafting involves the use of one’s hands to produce something by combining many different materials. They get to participate in what is, for them, a fun process that results in beautiful end products that are unique and personal. For instance, they can make perfume using a perfume making kit and store it into a bottle which may allow them to use it for a long time. When these children finish the tasks or when they get to build something with their own hands, this creates a lot of confidence within them.

Improving Social Skill

Crafting often requires collaboration, be it with adults or their peers. During this collaboration, they learn to communicate with others, share craft materials, and be attentive, which helps to improve their social skill. The social interactions during crafting help kids learn social cues, develop empathy, and build lasting friendships. This also supports their emotional growth and fosters a sense of community within them by providing them with opportunities to celebrate each other’s achievements.

Stress Relief

As pointed out earlier, the act of creating something lets a child air his/her feelings. This in turn is one of the great ways that could help kids to relieve stress. Through craft, children can find outlets to release their frustrations and effectively communicate their emotions. In a way, crafting acts as a coping mechanism for the kids. Crafting also requires kids to concentrate on the task at hand and give the project their undivided attention. When they direct their attention to the kids craft project, they automatically get distracted from any other worries or distress that they might be experiencing. 

Benefits of Art and Craft Therapy for Neurodivergent Kids

Improves Fine Motor Skills: When neurodivergent kids engage in crafting, they have to employ precise hand movements, stimulating their hand-eye coordination, grip strength, and thus improving their fine motor skills.

Enhances Concentration and Patience: When crafting, children have to pay proper concentration on their work and wait for the completion of each part, which forms a child’s ability to concentrate and be patient.

Alternative Communication: Through children can develop their ideas, emotions, and creativity in some other non-verbal way, particularly helpful in the case of children who have problems with verbal communication.

Sensory Exploration: Kids craft kits are a good opportunity to expose the child to different textures, colors, and shapes, which are very sensitive to children with sensory issues.

Boosts Self-Esteem: Children get a positive emotional feeling and a burst of confidence when they finish a crafts project and therefore they develop self esteem.

Fosters Creativity and Imagination: Promotes innovation and creativity in children, aspects that are critical in the overall development process of a child’s brain.

Emotional Regulation: Performing repetitive yet calming activities during a arts and crafts session decreases feelings of anxiety and could prove useful in regulating a person’s emotions.

Considering the fact that the children of this generation are surrounded by screens, it is more important than ever to encourage creativity within children and take note of how children engage in creative activities. It has been seen that both the methods of crafting through digital as well as traditional ways have some pros and some cons but most of the cons are related to the problem of excess screen time. This article aims at discussing the effects of both digital and conventional crafting on children and how they can strike a balance while engaging in creativity.

Benefits and Considerations of Digital Crafting

Digital crafting is a process of making an art work, designs or any other product that will be developed through the aid of computers or other related technology mediums. This can mean drawing apps, VR crafting applications, and programs for animation and graphic design among others. The benefits of digital crafting include:

Accessibility: The Internet has become a rich source of free and inexpensive means to exercise and explore various forms of art and design which in turn put children in a position where they are likely to try new technologies.

Skill Development: It is important for children to use technology products in their learning since we live in a society where technical skills are assets when it comes to education and job opportunities.

Variety: The choices are enormous as the digital applications extend from the basic drawing and kids craft to the most advanced applications suitable for animation enthusiasts.

However, the same use of digital crafting leads to new questions about the amount of time children spend in front of screens, which is linked to their health and social and emotional development.

Benefits of Traditional Crafting

Another form of crafting is crafting that directly involves the use of paper, glue, and paint, and the benefits of such crafting are fundamentally different including:

Tactile Learning: It is well known that dealing with objects develops certain aspects of children’s development, such as the fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness which come into special significance during the age of early childhood.

Sensory Experience: Traditional crafting like a perfume making kit also uses all forms of recognition such as touch, feel, taste, sight and hearing while digital activities do not.

Making things with children is always fun and they also get an opportunity to learn aspects such as creativity and critical thinking. When incorporating things such as paper, old cardboard boxes, old shirts, bottles, and cans, etc. for crafts for kids, one is not only nurturing creativity but also passing on an important message on the need to conserve the environment. This article will explain all the advantages of working with recycled material in kids craft, and suggest

The Sustainability of Using Recycled Materials

Recycling is a practice that is acceptable for using materials and products for crafting purposes because it helps eliminate waste of items that would otherwise occupy space in the dumping sites. This way, rethinking what surrounds us and donating a second life to such items as toys, cups, or clothes saves resources and reduces pollution. Crafting with recycled materials aligns with the principles of the three R’s: namely, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

Learning Through Recycled Crafting

Recyclable items can be combined to create craft kits for kids and this helps the children to learn on how they can be reused as well. It is through the creatively transforming used items into works of art that children get to understand more about the lifecycle of products and the need to conserve the environment. It nurtures your kid’s sense of responsibilities as well as their environmental conscience and actions that could span decades and preserve resources for the future generations.

Bottle Cap Jewellery

Materials: Small lids/caps from bottle, paint, beads, and string.

Instructions: The bottle caps should be painted in bright colours of your choice. Glue beads at the bottom of the caps and make a hole at the top to incorporate strainers and turn them into necklaces or bracelets. Kids can use these jewellry to play dress up along with their play makeup set.

Why Make Your Own Play Dough?

Here are a few reasons why you would make your own play dough over the store-bought products.

Safe and Non-Toxic: When you make play dough at home, you know exactly what’s in it. You can avoid the additives and preservatives found in store-bought versions, making it safer for little hands.

Customisation: The best part about homemade play dough is that you can customise it however you like. Choose your favorite colours, add a few drops of your confetti fragrance oil, or even mix in some glitter for a sparkling effect.

Cost-Effective: Making play dough at home is very affordable, using ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

Bonding Time: This DIY project is a great way to spend quality time with your kids, letting them help with the mixing and kneading. It’s a fun, creative activity that results in hours of imaginative play.

Tips for Creative Play

Color Variety: Divide your dough into smaller portions and add different colors to each. You can create a whole rainbow of play dough!

Texture Play: Add small amounts of sand, rice, or glitter to the dough for different textures.

Themed Play Dough: For special occasions, consider making themed play dough. For example, red and green for Christmas, or orange and black for Halloween.

Potion Play: Add playdough to your potion play.  Build structures to experiment in, dinosaur volcanos to play with or even mould a shape to play in. 

Emotional Benefits of Crafting

Children’s minds and bodies develop swiftly as they grow and explore their surroundings. Arts & crafts are wonderful instruments that can help with this development. Kids craft kits allow them to get a hands-on experience where they can tangibly express themselves and immerse themselves in a haven of vibrant colours, varied textures, and boundless creativity!

Boosting Self-esteem and Confidence

Crafting involves the use of one’s hands to produce something by combining many different materials. They get to participate in what is, for them, a fun process that results in beautiful end products that are unique and personal. For instance, they can make perfume using a perfume making kit and store it into a bottle which may allow them to use it for a long time. When these children finish the tasks or when they get to build something with their own hands, this creates a lot of confidence within them.

Encouraging Self Expression

Crafting might be one of the most enjoyable and effective ways for kids to share their thoughts and creativity. Doing arts and crafts helps the kids in such a way that they have a chance to express things that they only feel or think. Children are often unable to put their feelings into words especially if they are upset and therefore, get to learn how to use craft to express their feelings in other ways. In fact, this opportunity to express their emotions visually encourages kids to explore their feelings and inner world even more.

Stress Relief

As pointed out earlier, the act of creating something lets a child air his/her feelings. This in turn is one of the great ways that could help kids to relieve stress. Through craft, children can find outlets to release their frustrations and effectively communicate their emotions. In a way, crafting acts as a coping mechanism for the kids. Crafting also requires kids to concentrate on the task at hand and give the project their undivided attention. When they direct their attention to the kids craft project, they automatically get distracted from any other worries or distress that they might be experiencing.

The Importance of Play Time

Play is a fundamental part of childhood, crucial for developing physical, cognitive, and social skills. Active play encourages creativity, problem-solving, and physical fitness. Whether it’s building with blocks, playing tag, or engaging in imaginative games, play time fosters essential developmental milestones. Incorporating activities like using a perfume making kit or experimenting with a kids potion kit can spark creativity and add an element of fun to physical play.

While screen time isn’t inherently bad, it’s crucial to use it wisely. Educational apps, interactive games, and age-appropriate TV shows can support learning and provide a break from traditional activities. The key is moderation and ensuring that screen time complements rather than replaces physical play.

Finding the right balance between screen time and play time requires consistency and creativity. By setting clear boundaries and encouraging a variety of activities, you can help your child enjoy the benefits of both worlds. Remember, the goal is not to eliminate screen time entirely but to integrate it into a well-rounded schedule that promotes healthy growth and development.

Navigating this balance can be a challenge, but with a mix of structured screen time, creative play like using a play makeup set, and physical activities, you can support your child’s development while managing their digital consumption effectively.

What’s In a Magical Potion Kit?

Each box of the potion kit packs the delight of the art of fragrance creation. These kits help kids concoct spellbinding potions using a delightful array of mystical ingredients and can easily be paired with other activities like make up kit for kids during their play. Each box contains:

1 Mixing Flask

3 Coloured Potion Powders

1 Phantom Fizz Powder

1 Twinkle Gems

1 Potions Recipe Card

Building Confidence

Unlike most other activities, there is something very fulfilling about doing crafts from scratch. Children can also benefit from DIY projects like making potions with a potion kit, a slime kit, or a create your own perfume kit as this helps improve the child’s self-esteem substantially. If your children embark on the journey of making their own magical potions with the help of the potions recipe provided with the kit, they are likely to feel more independent and capable. They will also gain a sense of accomplishment when they finish the DIY project. This in turn will give them the ultimate confidence boost that they need to flourish.

Nurturing Imagination

Creativity and imagination are some of the most important aspects of child development and playing using craft kits helps nurture imagination in kids. Participating in play that requires creativity, like pretending to brew potions or role-playing with a play makeup set is beneficial in children’s development of cognitive and social skills. This is because such activities help children to be creative and look for ways to solve problems in their own creative ways. Thinking outside the box through the power of imagination exposes your kids to a world of new possibilities without any limits.

A Sensory Adventure

One of the most exciting aspects of these potion kits is the element of fragrance creation. The potion kits can help children discover many interesting miracles of scent and have fun at the same time! It enriches the experience and does not leave the kids with a mere fun experience, but an active learner as well. Shuffling through the different fragrances in the potion kit can make learning more engaging for your kids, and certain kinds of scents may even boost their memory. Creating potions involves understanding the different notes and how they interact with each other. This knowledge can be quite interesting and enlightening, especially when it ignites the learning process with topics such as chemistry in the natural environment.

The scents play with your sense of smell and impact how you experience the world. This is because when you smell something, your brain cross-references it with your stored memory and when it finds that perfect match, the limbic system activates, triggering a cascade of emotions and memories. So let’s explore how your kids can ignite their imagination and emotions with a perfume-making kit!

Storytelling Through Scents

The ability of the perfume making kits to inspire storytelling through different scents is one of the most magical aspects of these kits. You can compare it to a painter who uses different hues to fill the canvas with their imagination. When kids play with these kits, they can weave intricate narratives around the scents. For example, while playing with a gingerbread cookie-themed kit, they can imagine a Christmas setting and, while the warm fragrance of ginger can evoke the cosiness of their mother’s or grandmother’s kitchen.

Scents can also play an important role in helping the kids develop a character for their story. They might associate a specific scent with a specific character which may be the hero or villain of their story. For example a floral scent can be associated with a princess, or an odd smell as a result of mixing mishap can be associated with a villain.

Types of Perfume Making Kits for Kids

Not all kids are the same. They have varied interests and ages so it is highly unlikely that they’ll enjoy the same type of scents and kits. Don’t we adults try out 10 different perfumes before we finally pick the perfect one? So why should kids perfume be any different? Thankfully, there are various types of kits to suit the interests of different kids so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to this.

Beginner Kits

The beginner kits are specifically designed for younger children or children who are just new to perfume making and therefore are extremely easy to mix. These kids usually include everything that the kids might need to complete the task including instructions, essential oils, and mixing tools. All they have to do is mix everything and voila! Beginner kits focus on introducing children to the fundamentals of fragrance blending and encouraging them to explore their creativity

Themed Kits

Themes kits offer a curated and more immersive experience for the children. Therefore, these themed kits are perfect for those looking for a specific passion or interest. These kits may vary across different difficult levels but one thing is constant and that’s fun! No matter what your children prefer, be it cotton candy or fairy bread, they will surely enjoy the process of creating their favourite fragrance. 

In this competitive day and age, we have found that every parent is cracking their head about providing their kids with the best education possible. However, it is also important to incorporate play into your tiny tot’s education as it intersects learning with creativity and expands your kid’s horizons. This is where perfume-making kits come in. Imagine your little one, a budding scent detective, concocting their unique fragrances using a perfume making kit and exploring a new world of sensory explosion! This engages their senses through hands-on experience, fosters confidence, and sparks their imagination. Let’s find out more about how these bottles of sensory magic are perfect for your kids!

Fun and Educational Aspects of Perfume Kits

These kids’ perfumes are more than just things to play with for your kids, rather, they are an extremely useful educational tool for young minds with numerous benefits. Here are a few:

Sensory Exploration

It is natural for every child to be curious about the things or environments around them. In fact, children use their senses to understand and make sense of the world around them. A perfume making kit can be an effective teaching aid. This is because smell is one of the basic forms of children’s sensory perception. While playing with the kit and experimenting with the different fragrances, they can recognise as well as distinguish between different smells.

Creativity and Imagination

Perfume making is a unique craft that allows kids to explore their creative minds and give wings to their imagination. We believe that nurturing the power of imagination is vital for children. This is why, even though these kits are simple enough to make with just adding water, it leaves a lot of room for creativity where your kids can mix different scents to create a new and unique scent of their own. This process stimulates their imagination, allowing them to think outside the box and come up with innovative combinations. Your little ones can also pair these kits with play makeup set for imaginative role-playing.

Which kid doesn’t love crafting? It’s creative, it’s messy and it’s so much fun! Thankfully for parents, it also helps to keep their kids engaged. But did you know crafting is more than just a fun and engaging activity for kids? Crafting gives kids the immense joy of creating something on their own but even beyond that, crafting is a powerful tool for kids to expand their imagination. Be it a perfume-making kit, a play makeup set, or a DIY slime kit, these kits are instrumental in shaping the cognitive and emotional development of young minds.

Self-Expression Through Art

Crafting is a distinct platform for young minds to express themselves. The colours, textures, scents, and shapes act as mediums for kids to express their thoughts, feelings, and personalities. For example, if a child is dressing up with the play makeup set, they can pretend to be something from their fantasy, which is an excellent addition to their storytelling development and emotional intelligence. In the same manner, using a kids’ perfume making kit means that the kids can experiment and relate different fragrances to memories or emotions, thus adding spice to their dramatic play.

The Educational Value of Crafting

Nurturing imagination in children is vital as the imagination they employ while crafting is very useful throughout the educational process. Creativity enhances critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to view situations from multiple perspectives. These skills are not only valuable in artistic endeavours but also in academic and real-world scenarios.

Interests: how much the crafting activity matches the interest of your kids is directly proportional to how engaged your kid will be in the activity. For example, a kid who is fascinated with science might be extremely interested in experimenting with and mixing kids perfume while a kid who is more interested in artsy stuff might enjoy colouring or makeup sets more.

While at first glance, a perfume making kit may seem like an ordinary toy, the company claims it’s much more than that. With the importance of sensory play being increasingly popularised for kids in modern times, the brand is committed to aiding child development through its kits. Crafted with care and attention to detail, these innovative kits offer children a hands-on experience in the art of perfume making, allowing them to explore and express their unique creativity. But that’s not all folks! Confetti Blue also considers itself proudly neurodiverse, which is evident from its family of icons catered to children with different personalities and abilities.

Confetti Blue’s kits provide the ultimate play experience!

Designed to accommodate children of varying sensory needs and preferences, Confetting Blue offers an extremely enjoyable learning experience to the kids. From hypoallergenic ingredients to easy-to-follow instructions, every aspect of the kits is thoughtfully crafted to ensure that every child can participate and enjoy the experience to the fullest. These kits serve as a gateway to the imagination for the kids and work wonders in developing their cognitive and sensory skills. Each set of these craft kits for kids contains:

Food-grade scent

Perfume bottle

Reusable box that kids can use to create their own village

Instructions

Encouraging Creative Exploration

Confetti Blue’s perfume-making kits not only stimulate sensory play but also encourage creative exploration. By allowing children to mix and match different scents, these kits foster an environment where kids can experiment and learn about the art of fragrance. This process enhances their understanding of olfactory senses and promotes imaginative play, helping children develop a stronger sense of individuality and self-expression.

Playing with a perfume making kit is an excellent and exciting way for kids to express themselves as the kit acts as a creative outlet. Crafting a signature scent from scratch can not only be a fun and delightful experience for the kids but is also an extremely educational experience that broadens the sensory horizons for the kids. Having said that, it’s important to remember that these kits often come with chemicals or potent essential oils along with tools that might be hazardous. Therefore, safety should be prioritised while making kids’ perfumes. 

Supervision is Key

It is important that your kid is under an adult’s supervision throughout the entire process of perfume making. Even though these kits are made for kids and safety protocols are strictly followed, safety risks still exist, for example, your kid might end up swallowing something. The presence of a grown-up in such scenarios ensures that these potential hazards are addressed quickly. Plus, it’s also a great way for the adult and the child to bond and make lasting memories.

Read the Label Together

You kid might be too excited to dive into the activity of perfume making straightaway. But do not rush! Take time to go over the label and understand the content of the label. There might be an important advisory written on the label or mention of some ingredient that your kid can potentially be allergic to. Reading the label can help prevent mishaps. Don’t forget to explain the label to your kid too so they can avoid mistakes and have a safe play that yields fun results instead of scary ones.

Store Safely

You might supervise your child while playing with the perfume-making kit but it’s not possible to keep an eye on your kids 24/7. Who can control the curious hands of a child? This is why it’s crucial to store the kit safely in a place that is out of children’s reach once the kit is no longer in use. This will prevent your child from accessing the kit in your absence which in turn will prevent accidents and mishaps. After all, it’s always better to be safe than sorry!

These safety measures may sound daunting but don’t let them scare you away from fun! Perfume making kits are a wonderful opportunity for the kids to learn about different scents, explore sensory horizons, and have fun while at them. By following these nine simple safety tips you’ll be able to create a happy bonding experience without any adverse impact. So, gather your supplies, unleash your imagination, and embark on a fragrant journey together with your child. Happy perfume-making!

Define “play time’ for a tween

Welcome to the tween years. An age where your little ones are too old for dolls and pretend play, but too young to be left unsupervised with friends. So, what exactly do tweens do apart from tapping and scrolling on their phones, and does that count as play?

Well, play is anything that is done for recreational pleasure and enjoyment. And with a tween being stuck in a schedule full of studies, after-school programmes, and practise, the need for some stress-free time, aka play, is very important.

This could be anything from putting on a talent show to making silly runway dresses and even a game night to help them bond with friends and parents.

Play could mean different things for different teens. For one kid, fun could be an hour spent building a car out of old cardboard boxes or even playing catch with their dog, while for another kid it could mean playing a game of chess or painting rocks.

Board games, kids craft kits, designing animation, or coding—all come under the category of “play,” as long as they are relaxing and fun!

Of course, nothing beats sports like swimming, cycling, and even some spin classes. So when it comes to play, just think of it as free time where they’re enjoying, expressing, and going around doing what they love.

Developing Problem-Solving Skills Step-by-Step

One of the fundamental benefits of crafting is that it teaches the children how to approach each and every task methodically. While crafting, kids are required to proceed with the task step by step, which helps them learn to follow instructions and solve problems as they arise.

Following instructions and sequence: Whether it’s a kids craft kit that already comes with a set of instructions to follow or crafting from materials at home, the desired outcome cannot be achieved without sticking to a set of instructions. For example, while building a house out of a Lego set, kids can’t simply stack legos randomly, rather they’ll have to place the legos in a specific manner following a sequence. This teaches kids to pay attention to details and follow instructions.

Balancing Structure and Creativity with Craft Kits

Craft kits for kids like perfume-making kits or origami are considered an excellent starting point for kids who are beginners in crafting. While you can also begin from scratch with materials available at your disposal, the USP of these kits is that they already come with complete instruction, a structured framework, and all the necessary materials which can be reassuring to kids. This is why these kits can be a relatively easier gateway to creativity for kids before they can try their hands at more freeform crafting.

Encouraging Exploration and Innovation

Crafting empowers kids to explore and create, fostering a mindset of curiosity and innovation. By engaging in open-ended activities, children learn to trust their instincts, experiment with new ideas, and embrace the unknown. This empowerment extends beyond crafting, and influencing how they approach problems and opportunities in their lives.

Creating a Craft-Friendly Environment at Home

Encouraging crafting at home can be extremely easy by simply offering the kids a wide range of resources for making crafts and tools for workmanship. You can set up a crafty corner with supplies that include paper, markers, glue, scissors, fabric scraps, and recycled materials. The warm and welcoming atmosphere of the craft room can entice the children as they plunge into their tasks and simultaneously express themselves in full freedom.

Do 5 Year Olds Benefit from Sensory Play?

Absolutely! At this age, children are honing motor skills, language, and social interactions. Sensory play aids cognitive development and fosters exploration of the world, promoting problem-solving and creativity.

Sensory Bins: Containers filled with materials like rice or sand for hands-on exploration.

Water Play: Whether in a water table or outdoors, water offers rich sensory experiences.

DIY Potions: Mixing ingredients sparks creativity and learning.

Nature Exploration: Collecting natural items connects children with the environment.

Sensory bins can be themed, like a pirate adventure with sand and treasures or a fairies garden with dirt, sticks, grass, figurines and flowers.  Be creative and have fun with it!

So, in conclusion, Sensory play is vital for children aged 5-10, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and engagement with the world. DIY sensory activities offer enriching experiences, nurturing growth and learning.

All kids are unique and different in their ways, but there is a consensus that play is important for all of them. Even more so for neurodiverse children. It’s not just a fun activity that keeps them engaged and occupied, it helps them learn and develop critical fine motor skills, sensory-motor skills, and other cognitive skills. Autism support workers believe that one of the most effective ways to involve children in play and take a more hands-on approach to their development is to make kids craft kits Let’s take a deeper dive!

Understanding Neurodiversity And Sensory Needs

They might have either diminished or heightened sensory perceptions, social anxiety, or even obsessive-compulsive disorder. This is why it is recommended to seek aid from an NDIS support worker for such kids who often curate tailored neurodiverse activities for them.

1. DIY Perfume Kit

Perfume making kit can be one of the most delightful sensory activities for your neurodivergent child. Through this activity, children can explore and experiment with different scents which not only promotes their self-expression but also helps them with sensory regulation. Blending the different scents is a great way for children to develop their problem-solving skills and explore what they find most pleasing, thereby driving empowerment. 

3. Makeup Kit

There are some great play makeup set available in the market that can help neurodivergent children to express their creativity and build confidence. Makeup is a form of art and therefore, through makeup kids can explore a sensory-rich art experience which is also therapeutic.